Gaviscon Infant Sachets are available over the counter for children under 2 years but should only be used under the recommendation of a healthcare professional. They are used to treat gastric reflux (heartburn) and regurgitation. This happens when stomach contents move up the food pipe (esophagus), which can cause your child to feel uncomfortable. This is common in infants, as they can have an undeveloped muscle that prevents movement of the stomach contents back up the food pipe. This product is not available in the US. Speak to your doctor or pharmacist about an appropriate alternative. Gaviscon Infant Sachets contain a powder mixture; the two active ingredients are sodium alginate and magnesium alginate.

Bronchostop Junior is a cough medicine for all types of cough associated with a cold, including dry, tickly, and chesty coughs. Zarbee’s makes a line of cough syrups for children that are more readily available in the United States. These products are suitable for children aged between two and eleven years. They are available over-the-counter from any online or local pharmacy.

Bonjela Junior Gel is an over-the-counter medication that children can use over the age of 5 months, and is also safe for use by adults and the elderly. This product is not available in the US, but Bonjela adult can be used in people over the age of 16 years, and Bonjela teething gel can be used in children less than 16 years.

It’s difficult to see your child in pain with an earache, toothache, or sore throat, and your instinct is to take that pain away naturally. You can try certain things at home, and we’ll talk you through how to increase pain relief as needed. But bear in mind that pain has a function: it alerts us that something is wrong. Your child may not be able to articulate how they feel or exactly where the pain is, so if they seem in significant pain or it’s going on for more than a few hours, if you’re unsure of the cause, or if they have other symptoms, don’t hesitate to seek a medical opinion. This is especially true for tummy pain, a headache, or hip pain.

If your baby's diaper rash is in full bloom, you may need one or a combination of medications to get it under control. Some of these can be bought from the pharmacy, others may require a prescription from the doctor, but knowing what's available will give you an idea of how to manage the symptoms better.

Classic symptoms of COVID-19 consist of a continuous cough, fever, and loss of sense of smell or taste. However, the symptoms in children have quickly changed to include sore throat, diarrhea, headache, tiredness, muscle and joint aches, conjunctivitis, nausea or vomiting, and runny nose. It's much rarer for serious illness from COVID to afflict those under 18, but not impossible. If they experience shortness of breath and difficulty breathing, this is a reason to seek urgent medical attention, as you would in other illnesses. Post-COVID syndrome, or long COVID as most people know it, can occur in children. Specific symptoms, such as cough, difficulty breathing or exercising, concentration difficulty, or immense fatigue, can persist for three months after the initial infection.

Walking into a pharmacy can be quite overwhelming when it comes to trying to choose the right product to ease your child’s cough. The first thing to know is that the science behind cough medicines is not conclusive, but anecdotally people find them effective in helping to reduce their cough’s severity. The second is that your child’s cough is most likely caused by a virus – occasionally a bacterial infection– and the cough medicines are designed to ease symptoms but they can’t cure it or make it go away any quicker. The third thing to bear in mind is that coughs are worse at night – gravity when lying flat causes the secretions from their nose, throat and chest to pool and irritate -just when you want them to get a good night’s sleep. So, cough medicines may be a good idea at night and to have by the bedside in case they awaken with a coughing fit. Your child’s age is a good place to start when choosing a cough medicine. Many cough medicines are not suitable for children under the age of 6 years unless directed by a physician. For kids younger than 6 months, Tylenol infant suspension and Motrin infant suspension can be used to provide some relief if your child has a persistent cough causing discomfort associated with a temperature. Different types of ingredients found within cough syrups have different properties to soothe irritation, hopefully aiding comfort and soothing them to sleep.